Tagged:  raisins

These days, the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market and other farmers’ markets in California provide us with fresh, seasonal cauliflower. Cauliflower is high in Vitamin C, low in carbs and fat and rich in dietary fiber. The longer cauliflower is cooked, the more its nutritional value dissipates. Therefore, it is recommended to cook this vegetable until it is barely “al dente” or crunchy-tender.

 
Prep time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4 to 6 (as a side dish)

Try this exciting cauliflower salad, flavored with olive oil, lemon, bits of fresh oranges, raisins and fresh oregano. Serve it at a barbecue, lunch or dinner this summer. Vegan or not, they’ll all chow down this colorful, healthy salad in minutes!

Ingredients:
One cauliflower head, leaves removed & discarded and white florets separated into 2-inch chunks
3 to 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 lime or lemon
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1 orange, peeled, rind removed and fruit cut into 1-/4-inch pieces
3 tablespoons white or dark raisins
2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves

Directions:
1. Place the cauliflower florets in a 4-quart saucepot; barely cover with cold water.

2. Cover the sauce pot and bring the cauliflower to a boil.

3. Boil the cauliflower for approximately 2 minutes.

4. After 2 minutes, pierce one cauliflower floret with a fork to check for tenderness. Do not overcook the cauliflower.

5. If fork resists piercing, it means the cauliflower is still raw. If needed, cook for an additional 1 or 2 minutes.

6. After 1 minutes, check doneness of cauliflower with fork and/or taste it. The cauliflower should be “al dente” or crunchy-tender.

7. Drain the cauliflower in a colander set over a sink. Let it cool slightly, for 5 minutes.

8. After 5 minutes, transfer the drained cauliflower to a glass or porcelain serving bowl.

9. Add the olive oil, lemon, salt, pepper, raisins and fresh oregano leaves. Stir to combine.

10. Taste the cauliflower salad and adjust seasonings, if needed.
Text and Photograph ©2015 Nancy DeLucia Real

I love oatmeal in any way, shape or form and also for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Imagine the glee I must have felt when I discovered that oatmeal could be a main ingredient in homemade scones.

I make this recipe with either butter or vegetable oil (gotta be honest – scones are more delish when made with butter!). The warm, vanilla aroma of my oat scones is very comforting. Warning – warm scones will not only melt in your mouth, but they’ll make you reach for that extra pat of butter. Be sure to add a chaser of jam or jelly to every morsel.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Bake time: 12 to 14 minutes
Makes: 8 to 10 scones

Ingredients:
1½ cups all-purpose unbleached flour
1½ cups oats, uncooked (old-fashioned or quick-cooking)
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup granulated, unbleached sugar
½ cup currants, raisins or chocolate chips
1 large egg
1/3 cup milk (whole or low-fat)
2/3 cup unsalted butter, melted (2/3 cup vegetable oil can be substituted for the butter)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 425˚F. Line a 12X18-inch baking sheet with parchment paper. Alternatively, you can grease and flour the baking sheet.

2. In a 2-quart mixing bowl, stir the flour, oats, baking powder, salt, sugar with the currants, raisins or chocolate chips; set aside.

3. In a small bowl, and using a fork, mix together the egg, milk, butter or oil and the vanilla.

4. Stir the liquid ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients; mix until dough is uniform (do not overmix).

5. With floured hands, gather the dough into a ball. Transfer dough ball to a flat, floured surface and, with a rolling pin, roll it out to a 7 or 8-inch circle. The dough should be about ½-inch thick.

6. Using a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut into the dough, making concentric circles. Pick up any excess dough and reshape it into a ball, flatten it and cut an extra circle or two (there will be a total of 8 to 10 cut circles).

7. Place dough circles on baking sheet, leaving a 1 to 2-inch space between each one.

8. Place baking sheet on a rack positioned in center of oven.

9. Bake 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, check bottom of one scone by lifting it with a spatula. If underside is golden brown, the scones are done. If not, bake an additional 2 minutes.

Serve warm with butter and fruit preserves.

Text & Photograph ©2011 Nancy DeLucia Real